Gripper for traction-cables



(No Model.)

A. H. LIGHTHALL.

GRIPPBR FOR TRACTION GABLES. No. 274,506. Patented Mar.27,1883.

ITNEEEEE INVE TUE.

" XMW/ W6 diameter of the cable M. The upper die, (3, is

- moving cable by means of a lever attached to upward through the slotD. Upon that face rollers, but upon the opposite face of the grip-UNITED STATES PATENT -rrrcn.

ALMERIN H. LIGHTHALL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GRIPPER FOR TRACTION-CABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,506, dated March27, 1883,

Application filed November 18 1882. ,(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALMERIN H. LIGHT- HALL, acitizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the countyof San Francisco and State of California, have invented a certain newand useful Gripper for Endless- Oable Railways, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in grips for use inconnection with a moving endless cable, and is more particularly adaptedfor use upon such portions of the road or cable-tunnel as are curved inthe direction of their length.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspeeificatiou,Figure l is a plan view of the grip and the guide-rails between which ittravels. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the upper gripjaw or die.Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the grip and guide-rails.

Similar letters of reference are used to indicate like parts throughoutthe several views.

The grip consists of a lower die, A, rigidly attached to the body of thedummy-car by means of a bar, B. The upper side of this die is madeconcave, so as to conform to the adapted to be raised and lowered uponthe it in any suitable manner, and which extends of the upper grip-diewhich is next the inner side of the curve I make two slots, E E, withinwhich I place the friction'rollers F F, and pivot them by means of thevertical set-bolts G G. Intermediate between these frictiondie, I placea friction-roller, H, secured in place within its slot by means of theset-bolt I. The lower face of the upper grip-die is curved or hollowedout, as seen in Fig. 3, and a steel plate, J, is bolted upon the facenext the innor side of the curve, and extends downward and below thelower edge of the movable die and overlaps the upper edge of the loweror fixed die. As the grip is carried around the curve thefriction-rollers F F bear against the inner guide-rail, K, and thefriction-roller H bears against the outer guide-rail, L, and thus allvibration of the grip is prevented, and the grip and dummy or car iscarried steadily forward along and around the curve. Should it becomenecessary to stop the dummy while on its route around the curve, thejawsor dies of the grip can be spread apart, and the cable will be permittedto slide or travel freely through the grip, but will be prevented frompassing out of or from between the grip-jaws by means of the steel plateJ.

With a grip constructed as above described I am enabled to stop andstart on any portion of the curve, and to dispense with all carriagesand other auxiliary devices for carrying the grip around a curve.

I am aware that gripping devices for cable railways have heretofore beenprovided with rollers adapted to bear against guide-rails,

and thereby carry the cable around a curve in.

either direction without interference with the supporting pulleys orguides. This, however, I do not broadly claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, lS

A grip for cable railways, consisting of the lower fixed jaw, A, havinga bar, B, for attachment to the car, the upper movable jaw, 0,

ALMERIN H. LIGHTHALL. Q 3.]

W'itnesses:

.WILMER BRADFORD,

G. W. M. SMITH.

